On November 18th, the North Carolina State Lab of Public Health in Raleigh confirmed Alamance County’s sixth case of rabies for the year.
On November 18th, the Alamance County Health Department was notified of an animal and human exposure to a skunk that occurred on November 15th in the area of Fleming Graham Road in Burlington near the intersection of Deep Creek Church Road and McCray Road. The skunk was sent to the North Carolina State Lab for rabies testing, and it was found to be positive.
The human exposure identified by the health department began immediate post-exposure treatment. The animal that was exposed, a dog, was not current on its vaccinations at the time and thus received updated vaccinations. The dog is currently under a 45-day quarantine.
It is recommended that any outside pets near the area of Deep Creek Church Road and McCray Road be checked and monitored for bite wounds. If you live in this area and are concerned about possible exposure, please contact the on-call communicable disease nurse at 336-516-7715.
North Carolina law requires cats and dogs to be vaccinated against rabies. The first vaccination should occur when the dog or cat is no more than four months old; the second vaccination is required no more than a year later and then again, every three years.
If any animal bites you:
- Wash the wound with soap and running water for ten (10) minutes and seek medical attention immediately.
- Write down the location of the animal and provide a description of the animal for animal control. If the animal is someone’s pet, also get the owner’s name and address. Give this information to animal control or the health department.
- Do not try to catch any wild or stray animals.
For more information or questions about rabies control and vaccination requirements, contact the Alamance County Health Department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.